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My typical Lake Clara loop involves skinning up the trail, past the lakes, above the lakes to the skiing. Then after you ski what you like there above the lakes, the easy exit is to enter the ski area to the northeast and follow the runs to your car. In early season (still) the ski area closes the runs adjacent to the Lake Clara basin, so this loop is not "legal". Today I did the unthinkable and resigned myself to an exit down the trail. I'm so glad I went!

The lower half of the trail is see-through ice and I walked this with Microspikes on my boots. The upper half is mostly snow covered and is skinnable. On exit I skied the upper half and walked the lower. I would characterize the exit as "athletic".

The skiing above the lake today was fabulous! Not just pockets, but whole pitches of good snow. It is totally worth the ugly approach to ski the upper slopes. Take traction devices for your boots. I don't think the trail is navigable without.